S-STEM Scholar Rolanda Bell's Blog

Every time I start a project, I always think that I'm going to kick that football right away. And then life happens, and I'm flat on my back. This semester I have decided to examine the inhibitory effects of lactic acid producing bacteria on two common food pathogens: E. coli and Salmonella. In my mind I had this laid out perfectly. In my gut, I knew this wouldn't be easy, but I think my enthusiasm kept me from seeing how difficult it would really be. Nevertheless, I will persevere. And by the end of the semester, I will have kicked that football.

I have always known that Science was a subject I wanted to study. I received my first microscope when I was 8 years old, and have participated in every Science fair since the 5 th grade. In high school, I developed a real interest in bacteria, and centered by next 3 Science fair projects around Microbiology. I would schedule my study halls around my Science teacher’s break, and she would let me culture random things to see what would happen. She was the one who encouraged me to pursue a career in Science.